You can text Murphy with NJ government questions
Have you ever had the urge to text Gov. Phil Murphy?
Now, you can do just that. On Thursday, the governor’s office launched a program that allows New Jersey residents to text and ask the administration questions about the work of state government.
Murphy and his staff plan to use the program to directly engage with residents. The Murphy administration is using the Community text marketing platform to enable the new text-to-ask program — and is the first governor in the country to do so.
Community is a platform that “connects businesses, brands, public figures and more to their audiences,” according to a statement from the Murphy’s office.
“My team and I were attracted to Community because it changes the way we engage with folks,” Murphy said. “Virtually every consumer uses text messaging. Why not use it to speak directly to residents, keep them updated on some of the great work we’re doing, and at the same time provide them with another opportunity to tell us what’s on their minds?”
The governor’s text message setup was inspired by President Joe Biden, who launched his own account with the message-based Community platform last summer. Murphy appreciated that the company’s vision is to “connect the world to the power of Community: through personal experiences and engagement rooted in authenticity, belonging, and trust — bringing out the best in people. This is especially important in today’s communication landscape where harmful, negative speech can really impact society.”
The Murphy administration was quick to point out that there are no algorithms involved and that the company does not sell user data.
For those interested, Murphy — or more likely his staff — is available for questions or comments at 732-6055455. He’ll “also use this number to send updates from time to time” and “will get back to as many of you as I can.”